As America’s pre-eminent racing promoter, California businessman, race track owner, racing-team owner and innovator J.C. “Aggie” Agajanian’s lifetime achievements are virtually countless. At the Indianapolis 500, his cars and drivers qualified in pole position three times, set four track records and won the legendary race twice. Among J.C. Agajanian’s many skills, perhaps his greatest was the ability to recognize and foster talent, and one of the many beneficiaries of Aggie’s recognition was another American original, Robert Craig “Evel” Knievel. Destined to rise to massive worldwide fame as the best-known and most colorful stunt man of all time, Knievel’s daring motorcycle jumps—often covered by ABC-TV’s “Wide World of Sports”—drew legions of fans to Agajanian’s Ascot Raceway, and the two men forged not only a lucrative business relationship but, most importantly, a longstanding friendship. While Evel suffered breaks to nearly every bone in his body with every crash landing and endured the failed Snake River Canyon jump attempt in 1974, Knievel was known in millions of households and commanded record crowds and payouts everywhere he appeared. Around this time, Agajanian had separated from his role with the Leader Card Indy Car team by 1975 and continued to be driven to field a competitive new Indianapolis 500/USAC Championship Car team. The Dragon, built by Grant King in 1976 and named after the Chinese zodiac, was Agajanian’s chassis of choice, and two were procured. Cosponsored by Agajanian’s friend and associate Evel Knievel, this Dragon was campaigned during the 1977 USAC racing season as the “Agajanian/Evel Knievel Special.” Beautifully finished in white, red and blue and featuring Agajanian’s favored No. 98 in gold leaf, the Dragon handsomely recalled the unforgettable livery of the 1963 Indianapolis 500-winning Watson roadster owned at the time by Agajanian. This Dragon was driven by Gary Bettenhausen in the 1977 Indianapolis 500, where it qualified on the outside of Row 7 at 186.596 MPH and finished 16th, having suffered clutch issues after 138 laps. Subsequently, Bettenhausen had six Top 12 finishes in the car, including second place at Mosport Park and seventh at Pocono Raceway. Restored in 2014, the Dragon was loaned to the Evel Knievel Museum from 2017-2024. Power is provided by a twin-cam 159 CI Offenhauser inline 4-cylinder engine featuring Hilborn turbocharging and fuel injection, with induction via a Moon Super Suck air horn. The “Offy” carries Serial No. 255-418-1. Underpinnings include chrome suspension components and rear coilovers. Other highlights include a unique front spoiler, a large front aluminum radiator, a chrome roll bar and a rear wing. The racing seat is trimmed in black upholstery, and the driver is secured by a Simpson harness and informed by Smiths instruments. Knock-off magnesium racing wheels mount Goodyear slicks. Excellent memorabilia includes a canceled check for $10,000 from Evel Knievel Enterprises to J.C. Agajanian that was endorsed by both parties for the sponsorship of the race car, as well as the original 8-foot by 14-inch sign with chalkboard that hung over the team’s garage in “Gasoline Alley” at the speedway to display the car’s four-lap qualifying speed. Other wonderful ephemera includes an unused, original 1977 Agajanian/Evel Knievel team T-shirt, a 12-photo cache from the Indianapolis Motor Speedway archives, a Motor Service magazine with this car featured on the cover, an original program from the famous J.C. Agajanian 1973 L.A. Coliseum Evel Knievel Spectacular Jump, an original 1977 invitation to J.C. Agajanian’s home for the announcement of the car, and a 52x30-inch metal framed photo stand. As offered, this Dragon from the Agajanian family collection is a simply wonderful touchstone to two of the greatest names in American motorsports: J.C. Agajanian and Robert Craig “Evel” Knievel.
